10 years ago today I joined Allaire Corporation as an employee. I had been working with Allaire on and off for a couple of years prior to that date, but on February 2nd, 1998 I joined the company as their first Product Evangelist. And now, 10 years, 2 acquisitions, hundreds of thousands of miles, a dozen or so major product launches, thousands of customer visits and demos, hundreds of hotel stays, countless events and conferences, over a million e-mails, and hundreds of PowerPoint’s later, it is still tons of fun. What a ride thus far! I can’t wait for what comes next!
Wow, It's Been 10 Years!
31 responses to “Wow, It's Been 10 Years!”
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Congratulations, Ben! Here’s to another good 10 years!
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Deeply thanks for everything Ben Forta. You ROCK! 🙂
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Next month I’m celebrating my 1st year at Adobe 😉 Still got a long way to go. Congrats Ben!
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Congrats Ben! I guess time flies when you’re having fun!
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Congratulations Ben…
As someone who has seen you speak several times, I can tell that you enjoy your job. You’re also very good at it, and very thorough.
Here’s to what the NEXT 10 years have in store for you! -
Well done Ben! And you’re not even running out of steam. Keep at it! 🙂
All the best.
Gary -
Ben, it is impossible to gauge the benefit you have had on the evolution and survival of CF and of course Allaire itself; at the time. I am sure that your books absolutely helped legitimize and solidify the position of CF in the marketplace and of course, as you state, 1,000’s of Powerpoints and public appearances around the globe, again extolling and evangelizing it’s virtues. It only remains to say what everyone else here is saying.
THANK YOU -
Congrats a lot Ben, you are doing a great job. I never personally attended any of your events and I also missed one of your speaking arrangements in our offices here in England, unfotunately, but I have read your books and your tips/posts. Great job really. Congratulations!
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Congratulations Ben! I believe your hard work and – most importantly – honesty have led to the success of ColdFusion! It is always a pleasure to hear you speak and I look forward to congratulating you on your next trip to the Windy CIty!
mp/m -
Congratulations Ben! I learned coldfusion in 1999 from your books, then we coded in coldfusion 4.5. Still in love with coldfusion, still reading your books. Time flies!
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too cool, and glad you came on board when you did. as this is my 10th year, july 7th, with my company, http://www.navtrak.net 🙂 and we are making nice use of the things your evangelizing 🙂
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Congrats Ben, your enthusiasm for CF has made it a great journey.
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Dear Elder Forta,
Sometimes a few of my co-developers and I (we’re young and still in, or fresh out of college) gather around a bonfire together. Beside the bonfire we place a 10-foot easel with a blown up photograph of you and the new ColdFusion logo.
Then, without fail, we sway side to side while singing a capella, in unison, the following touching Bette Midler lyrics, that we believe she penned to describe the hard work you and Macromedia (ColdFusion wasn’t really that great before they took over, was it?) and now Adobe pour into one of the greatest products on Earth behind the scenes, 24/7, day after day, just so we baby developers can take all of the credit and dominate all of our competition, which we do EVERY TIME.
Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler):
It must have been cold there in my shadow,
to never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that’s your way.
You always walked a step behind.
So I was the one with all the glory,
while you were the one with all the strain.
A beautiful face without a name for so long.
A beautiful smile to hide the pain.
Did you ever know that you’re my hero,
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings.
It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
but I’ve got it all here inside my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.
I would be nothing without you.
Did you ever know that you’re my hero?
You’re everything I wish I could be.
I can fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings.
Did I ever tell you you’re my hero?
You’re everything, everything, everything I wish I could be.
Oh, and I, I can fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings.
Thanks Ben/ColdFusion/Macromedia/Adobe, for everything.
– All 6 ColdFusion developers in Utah. -
He’s not kidding, we really do that. About once a quarter. Congratulations on year 10 Ben.
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I can vouch for that too, I’ve been twice. We’re thinking of doing a slideshow on a projector next time using cfChart to illustrate how your beard growth and styling has changed in sync with economic trends and Web development technologies over the last 10 years. It’s uncanny.
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Congratulations, Ben! Here’s to another good 10 years!
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And to think I’ve known you most, if not all, of those years. Because of you I became a great fan of CF and your books. We started out with CF 3.0!
Ken -
Congratulations! Your hard work and dedication have brought you to the rank of CF-GURU No. 1
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Congratulations Ben! It seems like nowadays most people don’t attain milestones like that anymore. I’m sure anyone who has seen you speak over the years can attest to your personal commitment and interest to the role you fill in the community. good stuff
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Congratulations ben, and thanks for your support over the years. here’s to the next 10 years!
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Wicked awesome! You are a fantastic speaker, evangelist, writer, and supporter of ColdFusion. Thanks for all that you have done.
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Congratulations. Thanks for a great 10 years.
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Thanks Ben !!!
For make the industry of Web software a better place.
Thanks for share your knowledge a time spend with us.
I hope you stay 10 years more. Amazing job.
Congratulations. -
Congrats Ben! You have been a great visionary and guide for web development over the years.
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Wow, thanks all! Much appreciated! 🙂
— Ben -
Congratulations Ben. I began using ColdFusion that same year. I was still in the Air Force at the time. My co-workers and I learned CF directly from your books.
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Wow, congrats, Ben! I had started learning CF at the same time myself and I have always looked at you and the various CFWACKs as shear CFGold. Thanks so much.
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Wow!!! 10 years is a really long time….you must really enjoy your work! Congrats!
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I admire your devotion & CF knowledge. Congrats!
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Wow…The Decade…makes me think back to when you visited us at the Atlanta CFUG in ’98. I guess you were just a n00b then, and we ALREADY thought you were a guru!
Here’s to your continued success!
Regards,
Troy -
I cannot wait to see what you guys come up with next, keep up the great work!
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